Gi-ame apparatus



N. SHUPE.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9,1918.

1 ,3 1 6, 5 1 3 Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

gwuwnfow THE :DLUMHIA PLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON, D. c.

N. SHUPE.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. NIB.

1 ,3 1 6,51 3. Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

2 SHEET$-SHEET 2- auto: wzq

NORMAN SHUPE, or LONG rnmori,gcALI]?oruvrn,

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented se t c, 1919.;

Application filed November 9, 1918; Serial No. 261,816.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NORMAN SHUPE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at LongBeacln'in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have .invented new and -useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to improve certain features of the game apparatus covered by Patent #1242942, granted October 16, 1917, particularly with reference to the re-setting mechanism for the batting lever and related parts, the means for actuating the closures for the ball delivery or discharge chute and for re-setting the means by which said closure is opened to permit the discharge of'the ball, and means for protecting the operator or player and bystanders or spectators.

With these and related objects in view the invention consists in a construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, it being understood that changes in form, proportion and details of arrangement may be resorted to withinthe scope of the appended claims without de' parting from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing V Figure l is a general side view of the apparatus showing the ball-way or tunnel and terminal station respectively provided for the player and the mechanism by which the ball is returned after a specified operation by the player.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the casing in which the operating mechanism is inclosed, and indicating such mechanism in full and dotted lines respectively in the set position and in the sprung or operated position.

-Fig. 3 is a rear elevation partly broken away to show more clearly the re setting"devices.

Fig. 4 is a detail view partly in section showing the yielding closure member for the ball delivery chute.

Inasmuch as in general features thepresent apparatus corresponds with that disclosed in patent above noted, it will be sufficient for the purposes hereof to refer only in brief terms to the parts which remain unchanged by explaining that the ball-way or tunnel consists of longitudinal frame bars 10 arranged convergently from the operating station indicated at 11 to the target or mechanism station 12, said frame bars being supported by suitable standards 13, and said frame work being adapted to support a covering 14 of canvas or similar material which with the upper frame elements 15 should be extended forwardly and inclined downwardly to form a canopy terminating in a vertical back-stop or screen 16, designed to protect the player and bystanders or spectators; 4 Y

Within the casingl'? at thetarget end of the apparatus is arranged a batting lever 18 fulcrumed as at 19 to a suitable interior frame member and having connected! to its lower end an actuating spring 19 adjustable by means of a rod 20 which preferably extends through the'rear wall of the casing and is fitted with an adjusting nut 21, whereby the tension of the spring may be varied fro-lathe outside, or Without opening the casing. The batting lever is providedat its upper end with a yielding blade 22 adapted for adjustment as to. inclination to vary the direction of projection of a ball 23 arranged in the path thereof and normally seated ma 7 ball delivery chute 24 havingat its outlet a yielding closure 25 which is hinged as at 26 and is adapted to-be opened to permit-of the I passage of the ball. Said closure is normally and yieldingly held closed as by' springs 27 and is adapted to be opened by means of a follower 28 carrying pivotal fingers 2-9. An advance movement of the follower causes the tail portion 30* of the fingerto engage a stop 31, and thereby swing the longer arm of said finger in a direction which serves to open the chute door'or closure with the'least possible frictional resistance.- This follower is actuated bymeans of a coiled spring 32 having a tensionadjusting means consisting of a rod 33and an engaging nut 34.

'The forward oractive operation of the follower is controlled by the batting lever through the agency of a trip lever 35 pivoted at an intermediate point as shown at 36 hav ing its lower end connected as at 37 to the batting lever and having its upper end connectedas at 38 to thefollower. Hence as the batting lever advances to strike and project the ball the trip lever is actuated to advance the follower and open the closure so as to open the way for the discharge of the ball while the tension of the spring 32 assists in actuating the follower and at the same time the trip lever when the batting lever is released from its set position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. For maintaining said batting lever in the set position a trigger bar 39 is pivotally mounted as at 40 and is provided with a shoulder 41 to engage a pin 42 on the batting lever, and for tripping the trigger to release the batting lever there is employed a tri arm 4L3 pivoted at 4A and having an anti-friction roll i5 resting under the trigger and yieldingly held i itssnormalipositionby the spring 51.

The target 47; which may be of any pres ferredconstrnctionris provided with a bullsr eye plate d8 movably mounted for repression when properly struck by a thrown ball, and.

connected: with said bulls-eye member is a stem,49: attached. at its rear end to the trip arm 43,30 that, therepressionof: the bullseye, member1 serves; to actuate, the V trip arm and hence displace the trigger and release.

Eor thereturn of, thebatting lever to its normal position thereisemployeda re-setting leyer -52, located at the front erzl'or operating station of the tunnel within con: venient; reach of the player and connected by adrawrod 58 with afiexible runner 54: which traversesgrooved pulleys55 and: 56 andis ternninally;v attachedito the trip bar as at 57. 'Ilhus after the release. of the batting lever by the tripping-oh the trigger, and the accompanying discharge of the ball. which may be caughtby the player, it is only necessary to operate the hand lever 52 by, drawing it forwardto-cause the batting lever to be returned and locked in ,its-set or operative position fonsubsequent; release as explained.

Inipractice itis preferable to use a duplicate. actuating: spring 19 for the batting lever or element, the same beingconnected with-thelever for eXampleat or near the point; of; connection of the latter with the lower arin o f-the trip bar as shownat 58, a tension rod 59! being. connected with said spring and having an adjusting nut 60. Also as a; means, for neutralizing the restraining; effect of the runner 54 upon the trip .=bar acountenbalance 61 may be connected therewith by a cable 62 extending over a-direction-pulley 63. Also theconnection A bufier; 50. isarranged in 57 between the runner and the trip lever may consist of a clamp asshown, the position of which on the lever may be varied to change the leverage, the clamp being held in its adjusted positions by a set screw 64.

The above indicated changes in the con struction and arrangement of the parts of thegame apparatus tend to increase the efiiciency and at the same time the durability of the device by eliminating unnecessary parts and, hence avoidable friction, and consequently the necessity for readjustment, even after hard and protracted usage, is minimized.

l/Vhat is claimed is 1. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a pivotal spring actuated batting lever and locking and trip mechanisms for controlling the same, a ball chute traversed by the free end of'the batting lever for discharging'a ball therefrom, a closure forsaid chute yieldingly held in its chute closing position, a follower carrying a tilt-.

ingclosure actuating finger, and connections between the batting lever and the follower.

2. In anapparatus of the class described thecombination ofa pivotal-spring actuated battinglever and locking and trip mecha nisms for controlling the same, a ball chute traversed by the free end of the batting lever and having a closure yieldingly held in its closed position, a follower operatively connected with the batting lever, and a closure operatingfinger tiltingly mounted upon the follower for engagement with the closure, when the batting lever is released to traverse the chute.

3. In an apparatus ofthe class described the combination of a vpivotal spring actuated batting lever and lockinganditrip mechanisms for controlling the same, a ball chute traversed by the free. end of, the batting lever and provided with a. closure, yieldingly; held in its chute closing position, a follower;

operatively connected with the batting lever and a trip finger pivotallymounted upon said follower, and having a tail portion for,

NORMAN SHUPE.

Gopie ot this patent may, be obtained tor five cents eaeh,,by ,addressing thef Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D; ,G.- 

